Vitrus is a leading manufacturer and worldwide supplier of Hermetic Terminal Assemblies and related products for the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Compressor Industry. We have been in the Hermetic Sealing Services business making these products for over 35 years. As a member of the Tecumseh Products family of companies since 1987, superior product quality, reliable on-time delivery, and total customer service have become Vitrus hallmarks.

OPERATIONS We are located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA, where America's Industrial Revolution began in 1792. Our 50,000 square foot (4500 square meter) facility is in the heart of the region's historic textile and jewelry manufacturing district. Although our physical size is modest, continuous Lean Manufacturing improvement is steadily reducing required manufacturing space and increasing our capacity growth capability.

All primary production activities used in the manufacture of Hermetic Terminals are in-house at Vitrus. Glass-to-metal sealing is the core process technology involved. Other production operations and Hermetic Sealing Services include glass processing, electroless plating, powder coating and resistance welding. Frequent and rapid production line change-overs allow efficient manufacturing of a continuously changing product mix, in response to fluctuating customer needs.

Safety and Environmental controls and practices are also a major part of our operating culture. In addition to providing our employees with a healthy work environment, we take pride in our excellent record of environmental management for our community's benefit. We expect to achieve registration to the ISO 14000 Environmental Standard soon.

ENGINEERING, MANUFACTURING and QUALITY

Engineering and manufacturing excellence is a constant focus at Vitrus. We have been registered to the ISO 9001 standard for product design as well as manufacture since 1995. Close attention to customer requirements, together with thorough product design control, help ensure that we meet or exceed customers' specifications.

Our on-site Engineering Lab is equipped with a wide range of tools to support product and process R&D. Glass material and glass seal characteristics are fully evaluated, as well as all finished product characteristics. We also make use of the more elaborate resources at our Corporate Research Laboratories.

Wide spread use of CAD at Vitrus since 1992 provides a key contribution to our quick-response manufacturing culture, and helps assure our consistent success in meeting short lead-time requirements for new or modified Hermetic Terminal Designs. We also maintain a machine shop on site for making custom tooling and jigs, as well as quick fabrication of machine and workstation modifications for Lean Manufacturing improvement.

Tight process control and rigorous product standards are maintained, with a heavy emphasis on continuous quality improvement. Effective use of new technologies brings further benefit to our product quality. Computer vision systems and automated digital electrical testing are just two examples of improvements that provide higher levels of quality than older technologies or human effort alone can achieve. The outcome is a product that consistently exceeds our customers' growing needs.

Workforce involvement and input at all levels of our operations are a key factor in our success. Consistent job training, special skills training, frequent team meetings and information meetings and other employee development activities keep the entire workforce at Vitrus contributing to forward progress. The resulting strong team attitudes and efforts also enhance employee's personal pride in our product and our business.

DELIVERY

Using computer-based MRP and Production Scheduling for many years, and Lean Manufacturing techniques more recently, Vitrus has developed a rapid-change manufacturing mode that allows our production mix and/or volume to match customer requirements continuously. This, combined with flexible multi-shift operations, enables us to execute rapid flow-through of customer order changes to our shipping dock. We're very proud of our 100% On-Time Delivery record and our ever-decreasing Manufacturing Cycle Time.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Beyond meeting or exceeding our customers' expectations in the areas of product design, quality, on-time delivery and competitive prices, Vitrus is committed to a range of customer service functions. We provide on-site technical assistance to our customers, both for direct Vitrus product issues and for customer production line issues indirectly involving terminals. Larger, ongoing supplier-customer team improvement programs are also part of our way of doing business. Naturally, Vitrus' management staff is committed to filling all customer requests and requirements in a prompt and courteous manner.

Vitrus is totally committed to customer satisfaction. Whatever your hermetic terminal applications or requirements, Vitrus has the capability to serve those needs. Contact us today for all of our Hermetic Sealing Services!